Amtrak catches fraudulent "officer"

End of the line for bogus trooper
Police say a man rode trains free, claiming to be a state police officer.
Associated Press
February 5, 2008

BIDDEFORD — State police have charged a man who they say got free train rides on Amtrak's Downeaster by impersonating a trooper.

Paul Rumery, 32, of Biddeford told Amtrak personnel that he was a state police sergeant and needed to ride from Saco to Boston for official business, authorities said.

The ploy worked four or five times starting in November, until Rumery was stopped last weekend by a real trooper outside the Saco train station, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Public Safety Department.

Rumery got the free rides by telling Amtrak ticketing agents that he was a state trooper riding the Downeaster to look for trouble spots along the route, McCausland said. Real troopers don't accept free rides, he added.

A search of Rumery's vehicle and his apartment turned up no police paraphernalia such as fake identification or badges, McCausland said. Rumery, a truck driver who works for Labbe Construction of Arundel, has never been a law enforcement officer.

He was free on $300 bail after being charged with impersonating a public servant and theft of service. He is scheduled to appear in Biddeford District Court on March 5.

[Source]

Dead Presidents Walk Among Us!

Thomas Jefferson would like to be President of the United States again. Well, okay, he's August "Gus" Jaccaci, a Jefferson impersonator -- which is lucky for him, because Jefferson already served two terms! Kathryn Skelton, reporter for the Lewiston Sun Journal, tells us more. Full article available through "Source" link at end of excerpt.

Dead president: Vote for me
By Kathryn Skelton, Staff Writer
Friday, March 9, 2007

A Thomas Jefferson impersonator from New Gloucester will announce his write-in campaign for president of the United States today - as Thomas Jefferson.

He's got a platform and, he swears, plans for campaign swings through New Hampshire, Nevada and Iowa, all in character.
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The kickoff is planned for noon at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., where Jaccaci said he has taught, coached and worked as assistant to the dean of admissions.
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Jaccaci, who turns 70 today, said he "absolutely" expects he'll be taken seriously.

He boiled down his campaign themes to: "End war. Love nature. And know your neighbors."

And yes, he anticipates some ribbing.

"I've been doing this for 10 years and people have asked, 'What about Sally Hennings and why didn't you let your slaves go?' That's part of the dance; I'm always ready and willing and eager to deal with whatever the public wants to talk about."
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"The current political scene needs somewhat of a radical facelift," Jaccaci said.
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[Source]